CQC warns Argyle House it needs to do more to protect the safety and welfare of people

25 October 2012

The Care Quality Commission has issued a formal warning to Countrywide Care Homes (2) Limited saying they must make improvements to standards of care at Argyle House or face further action.

The warning follows an unannounced visit by inspectors to the care home in The Avenue, Dallington, Northampton, on 1 October, as part of a planned review of compliance.

Following the visit, inspectors found the owners of Argyle House needed to make improvements in relation to the care and welfare of service users.

The pressure area risk assessment for one resident had not been updated since February. They had to keep using call bells to ask staff to reposition them in bed as they were not being regularly checked by staff.

Some residents told inspectors that their incontinence pads were not changed very often. This posed a risk of infection.

A resident who was nursed in bed remained on their back for five days without being repositioned. This does not comply with medical guidelines for pressure ulcer risk assessment and prevention.

Inspectors noted 18 occasions on the medication chart that showed a fortified drink had not been given to a resident. This had been prescribed to them by their GP and should have been given daily to ensure their health needs were being met.

Nurses were not trained in the skills that were required such as giving injections, taking blood and replacing catheters.

Andrea Gordon, Deputy Director of Operations (central region) for CQC, said: "The law says these are the standards that everyone should be able to expect. Providers have a duty to ensure they are compliant.

“This warning sends a clear message that Argyle House needs to address this issue or face further consequences.

“Our inspectors will return in the near future and if we find that the required progress is not made we won’t hesitate to use our legal powers to protect the people who use this service."

Argyle House provides accommodation for up to 87 people who require nursing and personal care.

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For further information please contact Helen Gildersleeve, regional communications officer, on 0191 233 3379 or the CQC press office on 0207 448 9401 or out of hours on 07917 232 143.

Inspectors will carry out a further unannounced visit to assess whether the necessary improvements have been made.

The deadline for improvement is 29 October 2012. If improvements are not made, CQC has a range of enforcement powers which include restricting the services that a provider can offer, or, in the most serious cases, suspending or cancelling a service. CQC can also issue financial penalty notices and cautions or prosecute the provider for failing to meet essential standards. Any regulatory decision that CQC takes is open to challenge by a registered person through a variety of internal and external appeal processes.